Thailand Bill to Replace CCA is Overbroad

Thailand’s Computer Crime Act (CCA) of 2007 has been criticized for being overbroad and for granting authorities too much discretion in prosecuting Thai citizens and online service providers.

However, the Draft Bill to replace the CCA suffers from many of the same defects. Vague, overbroad, or overly punitive provisions in the Draft Bill could inhibit Thai service providers from offering Web 2.0 services and could harm Thailand’s global economic competitiveness in the Information Age. Rather than establishing new offenses and additional penalties for crimes committed with a computer, the Draft Bill should be revised to focus on crimes against computer systems, with precise and narrow definitions and generally limited to conduct intended to create harm.